Noel Toy
{{Short description|American burlesque performer and actress (1918–2003)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Noel Toy
| image = Noel Toy.jpg
| caption = Toy in 1942
| birth_name = Ngum Yee Hom
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1918|12|27|mf=yes}}
| birth_place = San Francisco, California, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|12|24|1918|12|27|mf=yes}}
| death_place = San Francisco, California, U.S.
| other_names = Noel Toy Young
the Chinese Sally Rand
| occupation = {{hlist|Exotic dancer|actress}}
| years_active = 1939–1999
| spouse = {{marriage|Carleton Young|1945|1994|end=died}}
| website =
}}
Noel Toy (born Ngum Yee Hom; December 27, 1918 – December 24, 2003) was an American burlesque performer famous for her fan dance and bubble dance, initially at the Forbidden City nightclub in San Francisco, California. Later, she acted in films and on television.
Early years and career
Toy was born in San Francisco, California. She was the first of eight children born to parents who immigrated from Canton, China. Toy's parents opened a laundry in Inverness, California, where they were the only Chinese residents.{{cite news|title=Famed Chinese-American exotic dancer of the 1940s dies |date=23 January 2004|publisher=Associated Press}} Toy, who was then nicknamed "Emma", was living in 1930 with her parents (Hom Gin "Gin"; Mah "Marion" Shee) and five of her ultimately seven siblings in Point Reyes Station, Marin, California, USA
She performed her routines at the Stork Club and other venues in New York City, before returning to San Francisco, where she was most famous at the Forbidden City nightclub.{{cite news|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|accessdate=2007-10-10|title=Noel Toy: famed exotic dancer of '40s|first=Chuck|last=Squatriglia|date=January 23, 2004|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/01/23/BAG3A4GCM21.DTL}} In her later years, Toy had many small parts in films and television, including a role in Big Trouble in Little China and frequent portrayals of Korean villagers in M*A*S*H.
=Personal life=
Toy met a soldier and actor named Carleton Young in 1945, who became enamored with the dancer after seeing her perform at Latin Quarter nightclub in New York. Their engagement was announced in June 1945, however it was called off a few weeks later.{{Cite web|title=30 Jul 1945, 10 - Appeal-Democrat at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/621023035/?terms=%22carleton+young%22+%22noel+toy%22|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}} Nevertheless, they obtained a marriage license on 19 December 1945 in Manhattan; and married the next day on December 20, 1945, in New York City.{{Cite web|title=6 Dec 1945, 297 - Honolulu Star-Bulletin at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/276108446/?terms=%22carleton+young%22+%22noel+toy%22|access-date=2020-09-29|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}} They remained married until her husband's death in 1994. They had no children.{{cite news|title=Noel Toy, 84, Fan Dancer Billed as 'Chinese Sally Rand'|last=Miller|first=Stephen|date=27 January 2004|newspaper=The New York Sun|pages=16}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Anne of the Indies | Slave Girl | Uncredited |
| 1955 | Soldier of Fortune | Luan | Uncredited |
| 1955 | How to Be Very, Very Popular | Cherry Blossom Wang | |
| 1955 | The Left Hand of God | Woman in Sarong | Uncredited |
| 1981 | S.O.B. | ||
| 1986 | Big Trouble in Little China | Mrs. O'Toole | |
| 1992 | Frame-Up II: The Cover-Up | David's Grandmother | |
| 1999 | Midnight Temptations 2 | Bea |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{wikiquote}}
External links
{{commons category|Noel Toy}}
- {{IMDb name|0870277}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toy, Noel}}
Category:Chinese-American culture in San Francisco
Category:American people of Chinese descent
Category:American burlesque performers
Category:Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Category:Actresses from San Francisco
Category:People from Inverness, California